Electric furnace for fixing nitrogen from the air.



E. 11.3001 1 I ELECTRIC FURNACE-FOR FIXING NITROGEN FROM'THE AIR.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 25, 1913. 1,1 1 3,1376

- Patented Oct. 13, 19M.

avian/ram IMT/VESSQSZ ITNITED sra'ras rarniv'r orriono ERNEST KILB-URN SCOTT, OF IBELVEDERE, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC FURNACE FOR FIXING NITROGEN FROM THE AIR.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ERNEs'r KILBURN Scor'r, consulting engineer, of Osborne House, Belvedere, Kent; England, have invented a certain new and useful Improyed Electric Furnace for Fixing Nitrogen from the Air, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to an electric fur nace for the direct fixation of nitrogen from the air. In such furnaces it is important that the gases coming from the arc flame shall be cooled quickly in order to fix the nitric oxid to minimize its disassociation. Further, it is desirable that the temperature shall be still niore'reduced while the gases are in the immediate proximity of the furnace in order that the nitric oxid may begin to be oxidized into nitrogen peroxid. Previously the usual method of cooling the nitric oXid quickly has beento blow in cold air at the top 01 the arc flame. This method has had the disadvantage of diluting the fixed gas. According to this invention the furnace chamber is provided with a watercooled roof forming a steam generator against which directly impinge the are the electrodes flames produced between the electrodes which are supplied with current from a polyphase power circuit. If desirable the steam generator may communicate with a superheater, the steam thus raised being employed to drive the machinery which generates the electric power for the furnace.

The electrodes preferably are horn-shaped or of other divergent form and radiate from a center above the air inlet, this shape and disposition of the electrodes together with the fact that they are supplied with power from a polyphase circuit results in the for mation of a-ITZIIC flame of substantially conical form as distinct from the flat are or the long rod-like are produced in well known forms of nitrogen fixation furnaces.

The electrodes are preferably mounted on carriages and can be advanced into or with drawn from the-furnace chamber, the apertures through which they are introduced being of such a size and shape as to be closed by the electrodes and their carriages when are in their operative position. i In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one construction of electric furnace in accordance with this invention,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Application filed June 25, leis. Serial No. 775,715.

Figure 1 is aside elevation in vertical section, and Fig. 2 IS a plan.

I he turnace comprlses a fireproof chamber A of circular cross-section in the base of which is a central adjustable air inlet nozzle. The electrodes comprise wedgeshaped blocks of metal C through which cooling water flows by means of pipes the electrodes being mounted upon insulated carriages D, the wheels D of which preferably run-upon rails D lilternatively the electrodes may be tubular and curved somewhat similar in shape to lightning arresters of the horn type as before being water cooled and mounted on carriages and having mounted on them suitable projecting members in the form of renewable sleeves or the like if found necessary. The electrodes and. their carriages radiate from the central air inlet B, openings A being formed in the lateral walls of the furnace chamber to ad mit the electrodes and their carriages which together close these openings when the electrodes occupy their operative position. If desired, mechanism may be provided for simultaneously advancing or withdrawing all the electrodes relatively to the furnace chamber.

The roof of the furnace'chamber preferably forms a steam generator and in the construction shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an annular chamber E having inclined fire tubes F radiating from a domed central recess against which impinge the arc' flames produced between the electrodes. The steam generator is mounted upon suitable standards or supports G, and is provided with a casing H, in the upper portion of which is formed a flue H through which the gases escape after being cooled by passing through the water-cooled tubes F. In

this construction a. superhe ater coil J may be provided above the. generator within the chamber H and the steam raised in the gen erator or additionally heater may be employed to drive the machinery which generates the electric power for the furnace. l I

In the construction illustrated, the electrodes are connected to a three-phase sysheated in the super-' tern and the arcs producedybetween the elec- I trodes form approximately a conical flame (as shown in Fig. 1) when supplied with air from the central inlet B. The central part of the arc'fiame projects a considerable distance above the top ofthe elect'rodes,

and as thecentral part of a three-phase arc is at neutral or zero potential, by impinging on the underside of the steam generator the latter is earthed so that no, disadvantages arise. The radiating fire tubes E' are so arranged that they are always completely surrounded by water and after passing through these tubes and circulating around a superheater coil J, the gases escape through the flue H to the point where they are subsequently treated. I

uhe generator may be so proportioned as to cause the temperature "of the gases to be reduced to such an extent that when they enter the flue or discharge conduit this temperature may be ap roximately that at which the formation of nitrogen peroxid commences.

by Letters Patent is:

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired-to be secured 1, In an electric furnace for fixing nitrogen from the air, the combination of a furchamber through said apertures and to close said apertures when occupying their operative positions, an air supply duct arranged centrally within the furnacechamber and a water-cooled roof 'for the chamber so disposed relatively to' the electrodes that the arc flames produced between the electrodes impinge directly against said water-cooled roof which constitutesa steam generator;

2 111 an electric furnace for fixing nitrogen from the'air, the combination of a furnace chamber, having an air inlet at its lower end, a steam generator comprising a water receptacle forming the top ofthe turnace chamber and provided with a 'ste a1n outlet and a gas passage communlcating with thefurnace chamber and adapted to be surrounded throughout itslength by the water in the receptacle, a sup'erheater communicating with the' steam outlet of vthe steam generator and exposed to the gases passing through said gas passage, and elec-' trodes arranged mthe furnace chamber.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses. p ERNEST KILBURN sooTT;

' ,Witness'es MAURICE ST QDE, VICTOR ARTHUR BOORMAN. 

